Definition of recall in English:

1Bring (a fact, event, or situation) back into one's mind; remember.

1. 1.1Cause one to remember or think of.
   ‘the film's analysis of contemporary concerns recalls The Big Chill’
   More example sentences

   • ‘The puzzle with which he is concerned strongly recalls the ‘Master Argument’ of Diodorus Cronus, especially in certain further details.’
   • ‘It immediately recalls the contemporary paintings of Johannes Phokela, whose re-workings of European Old Masters insert black figures into otherwise Western contexts.’
   • ‘The track sounded fun and contemporary, while also recalling some of their earlier work.’
   • ‘O'Grady's depiction of treachery and oppression by Elizabethan bureaucrats recalled contemporary parallels, thought the reviewer.’
   • ‘These children stare wildly, their oversized eyes gazing upward, eternally unblinking in an attitude that recalls contemporary Symbolism.’
   • ‘Smaller pebbles outline larger ones, and the light on dark scheme recalls contemporary red-figure vase painting (though the stimulus of lost textiles should not be discounted).’
   • ‘This technique of cutting up previously existing material and pasting it into a portrait of a human being recalls contemporary experiments in montage.’
   • ‘Traditional memorials recall moments from the past.’
   • ‘In a number of respects Solanas's new film recalls his earlier work.’
   • ‘The domed stupa of Buddhist architecture recalls the simple mound of earth while its gates memorialise the forest cleared for the monument.’
   • ‘We call it Tudor revival with a twist because it recalls traditional homes in early Seattle neighborhoods, but is contemporary in the way it opens to a multifunctional garden landscape.’
   • ‘Sidney's contempt recalls Lodge's low opinion of Gosson's scholarship, especially of his ignorance of Platonic philosophy.’
   • ‘The column triggered a fusillade that recalled the sulfurous exchanges between Joseph Pulitzer and his contemporaries in an earlier era.’
   • ‘The pastels recall early works by Elizabeth Murray, Korman's contemporary.’
   • ‘Wine, in particular, would recall the blood shed by Christ whom some contemporaries greeted as the Lamb of God.’
   • ‘Unlike most New York examples, however, this one recalls contemporary German or Austrian models more than the French prototypes.’
   • ‘The torn sackcloth and protruding tubes of fabric at the center of the canvas recall contemporaneous works by both Alberto Burri and Lee Bontecou.’
   • ‘So placed, the light sculpture's flickering luminosity seems to both recall an earlier contemplation and act as new illumination to a newer generation.’
   • ‘This is an ensemble policier, an uncommonly sunny film with urban chumminess that recalls contemporary Japanese television serials.’
   • ‘It has a contemporary edge that recalls, without appropriating, the vocabulary of William Forsythe.’
   Synonyms

   bring to mind, call to mind, put one in mind of, call up, summon up, conjure up, evoke, echo, allude to

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2. 1.2recall someone/something toBring the memory or thought of someone or something to (a person or their mind)
   ‘the smell of a black-currant bush has ever since recalled to me that evening’
   More example sentences

   • ‘As I later recalled my logic to Lauren, she brought up an interesting point.’
   • ‘Ancient memories of treachery and betrayed trust screamed in warning at the very thought, and Bahzell had muttered of gods and wizards while the dream was upon him, even if he couldn't recall the words to his waking mind.’
   • ‘Not surprisingly, these are rougher years and I find I cannot recall the films to mind as readily.’
   • ‘Three vivid incidents will always recall him to my mind.’
   • ‘This recalled to mind that one of the security programs asked something about this file.’
   • ‘Nothing recalled to me as yet in any way the murderer's features.’
3. 1.3Call up (stored computer data) for processing or display.
   ‘students can recall templates or stored formats’
   More example sentences

   • ‘A keypad enables users to store and recall specific injection protocols with integrated test injections.’
   • ‘This is achieved by feedback control systems that can learn by capturing, storing, recalling, and analysing information.’
   • ‘It comes with seamless links to Microsoft Office and has features for storing and recalling information.’
   • ‘As you talk him through the process, let him recall the data.’
   • ‘The data is recalled from tape to disk when next referenced.’
   • ‘There is virtually no limit to the number of setups that can be stored and recalled.’
   • ‘For one thing, computers are a pretty intelligent lot, if the measure of intelligence is the ability to absorb, process and recall vast amounts of information.’

2Officially order (someone) to return to a place.

1. 2.1Select (a sports player) as a member of a team from which they have previously been dropped.
   ‘the Fulham defender has been recalled to the Welsh squad for the World Cup’
   More example sentences

   • ‘The 19-year-old was recalled to the team for his second appearance as part of a five-pronged seam attack, with spinner Gary Keedy missing out.’
   • ‘Michael Duberry admits that he has mixed feelings about being recalled to the Leeds team for tomorrow's FA Cup tie at Birmingham.’
   • ‘Drakes was recalled to the national team when he figured in the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.’
   • ‘Eric Andrews, recalled to the first team for the first time in over three months after impressive displays in the Academy side, led the way with a five-try haul.’
   • ‘The 25-year-old centre half was recalled to the England squad and made his seventh England appearance during last week's controversial friendly.’
   • ‘England recalled fast bowler Chris Silverwood in a 14-man squad for the second cricket Test against Australia at Lord's on Thursday.’
   • ‘And it may be only a matter of time before Button is recalled to his first team, especially if Michael Schumacher decides enough is enough and a grand reshuffle ensues.’
   • ‘Soon he would be back playing for Everton, and to a standard that had some wondering, unrealistically, whether he might even be recalled to the England squad.’
   • ‘Hilton was recalled to the squad this week for the first time in two years having finally qualified to play for Scotland on the basis of residence.’
   • ‘You've been recalled to the Jamaican squad after three years.’
   • ‘Stam has been recalled to the Dutch national squad for their friendly with Spain tomorrow night just weeks after returning from his doping ban.’
   • ‘Combe could be recalled to face Motherwell tomorrow - his first Dundee United game since December 2000.’
   • ‘It followed fine performances by the 29-year-old Londoner against West Ham and Leeds after being recalled to the side only because of the club's injury problems.’
   • ‘Cullinan was recalled to the South African side for the second Test in Cape Town but withdrew on Tuesday after the United Cricket Board failed to offer him a contract.’
   • ‘Both still train with us every day so know the way we work and one will have to be recalled to provide us with cover.’
   • ‘Pauleta, the Portugal forward, has been recalled to the starting line-up and will take the place of Nuno Gomes.’
   • ‘He was suspended for two years but successfully appealed the decision in April, and was recalled to the Springboks squad just over a week ago.’
   • ‘He should have notched up another three points shortly afterwards when Gareth Thomas, recalled to the team in the centre, was penalised for playing the ball on the floor.’
   • ‘Will some of the sacked senior players be recalled?’
   • ‘Bucks had complained vigorously for having to recall their players who had already gone on holiday for the league recess.’
2. 2.2(of a manufacturer) request all the purchasers of (a certain product) to return it, as the result of the discovery of a fault.
   More example sentences

   • ‘Changes may be as simple as redesigning a cable connection or so complex that the product must be recalled by the manufacturer.’
   • ‘With regards to safety, faulty goods should be recalled by the manufacturer and refunds to the public given no matter where they were purchased.’
   • ‘West Vancouver firefighters are warning residents to check their thermostats after a heating unit which had been recalled by the manufacturer started a fire in a seniors' care home.’
   • ‘The manufacturer who distributed hot dogs and delicatessen meats under 11 different brand names has voluntarily recalled the causative products.’
   • ‘Affected companies are recalling products in Ireland and Britain.’
   • ‘Last month 580 products were recalled after a contaminated batch of Worcester Sauce got into thousands of food products including many ready-made meals.’
   • ‘All have powers to withdraw or recall a food product.’
   • ‘They also want to give manufacturers an opportunity to voluntarily recall their products.’
   • ‘The U.S. government has recalled the products in question but retailers have been importing the potpourri and scented pine cones since April’
   • ‘More than 200 products were recalled in Australia this week when an audit revealed the company's breach of safety standards.’
   • ‘Gun dealers aren't required by law to address these defects or to recall their products.’
   • ‘We have an ability to contact those importers, recall any products that we consider to be of high risk, and, of course, publish any further information that is necessary.’
   • ‘A couple of big-time scooter makers had to recall their products when they started to come apart as kids rode them.’
   • ‘Food manufacturers recalled over 300 types of food products for this reason and initiated a series of genetic tests.’
   • ‘She said the product was subsequently recalled.’
   • ‘Some board manufacturers were not affected; others were able to intercept their deliveries, while some board makers even had to recall products.’
   • ‘They have also been asked to retain any compound feed containing the contaminated material and to recall any such compound feed sold to farmers and retailers.’
   • ‘For the last three years, more goods made in China are recalled from American store shelves than goods made in any other country.’
   • ‘The chip giant could have redesigned the mobos, but instead has decided to recall the whole caboodle.’
   • ‘It has come up with the plausible, although ridiculous, excuse that it has software problems with 103,000 handsets and so has had to recall them.’
3. 2.3Bring (someone) out of a state of inattention or reverie.
   ‘her action recalled him to the present’
   More example sentences

   • ‘Andrew was recalled from his morbid reverie by his guide's gentle grasping at his right elbow.’
   • ‘The smell of the food they were eating and a sense of hunger recalled him from these reflections.’
   • ‘When Georgiana recovered consciousness, she found herself breathing an atmosphere of penetrating fragrance, the gentle potency of which had recalled her from her deathlike faintness.’
4. 2.4archaic Revoke or annul (an action or decision)
   ‘he sent another note to Lord Grey recalling his earlier communication’
   More example sentences

   • ‘He then appealed to the Court of Appeal on that point and the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal on the ground that the sentencing judge had no jurisdiction to recall and vary the original sentence.’
   • ‘Confused with the orders of Judge Vianzon, respondents filed a manifestation seeking clarification whether the judge had recalled his earlier order of inhibition.’
   • ‘Thereupon, the district judge recalled his order for a preliminary examination.’
   Synonyms

   revoke, rescind, cancel, retract, countermand, take back, withdraw, repeal, veto, overrule, override, abrogate

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1An act or instance of officially recalling someone or something.

1. 1.1North American The removal of an elected government official from office by a petition followed by voting.
   More example sentences

   • ‘Davis last night became the second governor in American history to be thrown from office in a recall vote.’
   • ‘Thus the legal process for recalling the current village committee director was on the way.’
   • ‘Wednesday, one of his political advisers said he will make a formal announcement after the recall is officially certified and a date for the ballot is set.’
   • ‘Would a Davis resignation cancel the recall, and leave Bustamante as governor?’
   • ‘Camejo was an early and avid supporter of the recall and continues to officially call for a ‘yes’ vote on removing Davis from office.’

2The action or faculty of remembering something learned or experienced.

1. 2.1The proportion of the number of relevant documents retrieved from a database in response to an inquiry.
   More example sentences

   • ‘The (q) of a block is a function of its recall probability and size.’
   • ‘It has high recall and high precision, but has the disadvantage of being an expensive database with high online print royalties.’
   • ‘The effectiveness of a search can be measured in terms of recall and precision.’